Last Updated on March 10, 2026 4:22 pm
UPDATE 4:20 PM from Watauga Sheriff's Office:
Detectives with the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office have charged 31-year-old Dylan Welly with one count of Assault on a Female in connection with the incident that occurred on the Greenway walking trail near Brookshire Park on March 10, 2026.
Welly was located and taken into custody at the Hospitality House of Boone without incident.
Due to the ongoing investigation, the victim’s information is not being released at this time.
The Watauga County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Boone Police Department and Appalachian State University Police Department for their assistance during the investigation.
UPDATE 2:56 pm from Watauga County Sheriff's Office:
On March 10, 2026, at approximately 10:50 a.m., the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an assault involving a female that occurred on the Greenway walking trail near Brookshire Park.
Deputies from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, along with officers from the Boone Police Department and Appalachian State University Police Department, responded to the area and conducted a search for the suspect.
Out of an abundance of caution due to the proximity of the incident, Watauga High School and Hardin Park Elementary School were placed on a hold-in-place statuswhile law enforcement conducted the search.
The Watauga County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate this incident. At this time, no additional information regarding the victim or suspect is being released. The Victim is currently working with investigators to identify the suspect.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Update 1:36 pm – Law enforcement has apprehended the suspect that they were searching for at this time. The hold at Hardin Park and Watauga High is lifted.
Update 12:20 pm from Watauga High School- Watauga High School and Hardin Park Elementary School are continuing to stay in a HOLD (this means that instruction will continue, however, no transitions out of the building will occur) out of an abundance of caution with WHS students staying in their 2nd period class. Watauga High School and Hardin Park are working with law enforcement to ensure everyone is safe and cared for. We will continue to update families and the community as this progresses.
12:00 pm From Watauga County Schools – Watauga High School and Hardin Park Elementary School are currently under a HOLD action due to a community incident near our campuses. This means that class will operate as normal, however, no transitions out of the building will occur. At this time we are operating under an abundance of caution. We will update families and the community as we progress through the situation.
